Bradley keeps Byron Nelson lead

Reuters

Sun, May 19, 2013 - Page 19

Former champion Keegan Bradley maintained a three-shot lead in Friday’s second round of the Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas, after grinding his way to a one-under-par 69 in increasingly tricky conditions.

Three ahead of the chasing pack overnight after opening with a blistering course record 60, Bradley had to contend with strengthening winds and firming greens at the TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas en route to an 11-under total of 129.

US journeyman Tom Gillis (63) and South Korean Bae Sang-moon (66) were tied for second, but China’s 14-year-old Guan Tianlang made an early exit, missing his first PGA Tour cut in three career starts after battling to a 77.

A day after tying the tournament record of 60 held jointly by Sam Snead (1957) and Arron Oberholser (2006), Bradley mixed four birdies with three bogeys to preserve his place at the top of the leaderboard.

While Gillis was among several players in the morning wave who took advantage of calmer weather and preferred lies on a layout softened by rain earlier in the week, Chinese sensation Guan plummeted down the leaderboard.

Guan, who made his second consecutive PGA Tour cut at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans last month, followed his opening 70 with a 77 to finish well outside the cut line of level-par 140.

Competing this week on a sponsor’s exemption, Guan carded five bogeys, two birdies and two double-bogeys, the last of them coming on his final hole, the ninth, where his tee shot ended up in water.

“I won’t make the cut every time, but I think I learned more,” Guan said.

Also failing to advance were former major winners Yang Yong-eun of South Korea, South African Trevor Immelman and the US’ Ben Curtis and Lee Janzen.

MADEIRA ISLANDS OPEN

AP, SANTO ANTONIO DA SERRA, Portugal

Craig Lee of Scotland shot four-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead at the Madeira Islands Open before bad weather forced the second round to be suspended on Friday.

Heavy fog on the Atlantic island delayed play in the morning before darkness led to the round being suspended.

After bogeying the second hole, Lee was flawless the rest of the way, hitting five birdies on the Clube de Golf do Santo da Serra course.

US golfer Peter Uihlein went eight-under on the round to move up to one shot back, along with Chile’s Mark Tullo.

WORLD MATCH PLAY

AP, KAVARNA, Bulgaria

Ian Poulter was eliminated from the World Match Play Championship after losing another round-robin match on Friday.

Poulter lost to Thomas Aiken one up at the Thracian Cliffs course, bogeying the last hole after missing the fairway.

“I have no excuses,” Poulter said. “There is no excuse for that display of golf over the last two days. It’s disgusting, disgraceful and there’s no explanation. I should have been able to finish the match off.”

Poulter lost to Thongchai Jaidee on Thursday. On Friday morning, Jaidee beat Aiken one up.

Jaidee is one of only four players to win both early matches, joining Francesco Molinari, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Scott Jamieson.

Fernandez-Castano beat Jamie Donaldson on Friday and then defeated Brett Rumford three and two. Rumford won his opening match earlier in the day, beating Jamie Donaldson five and three on Friday.

Richard Sterne also ensured his advancement by defeating former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy five and four, while defending champion Nicolas Colsaerts recovered from his first round loss, beating Kiradeck Aphibarnrat three and two.